Prom Prep: Adaptive Make-Up Application

Prom week continues! After you’ve picked out that perfect dress, it’s time to think about make-up. When you have decreased hand function due to an illness or injury, this is easier said than done. Some people go to a salon to get their make-up done for prom, but that can get costly on top of everything else you’ve paid for already.

To help you get ready for this oh-so-fun evening without breaking the bank on a stylist, we have pulled together some of our favorite adaptive make-up application tips:

Use brushes with long handles that you can hold between your thumb and first finger.

Place a small rubber band around the handle of the brush to keep it from slipping.

Buy products that have larger wands/packaging to make it easier to grip in your hands.

Buy products in “liquid form,” such as eyeliner and lipstick. These products will glide on easier with less pressure applied. Pencils and standard lipsticks tend to require more pressure to go on evenly.

Use your teeth! Many times it is the easiest way to get things open.

If you are currently still in outpatient therapy, you may be able to have your therapist make you a special splint to use with your specific make-up.

For even more tips and tricks, there are tons of great resources on the Web. We are big fans of BeautyAbility.com, run by Tiffiny, a 23-year-old C6 quad who knows her style. If you’re more of a visual learner, there are some amazing adaptive make-up application demos on YouTube. Our favorites are from Crystal, a C6/C7 quad with some serious skills. Check out her videos below, and her YouTube channel for even more great demos.

Do you have any adaptive make-up application tips to share? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll share with our followers!